Mavis Batey facts for kids

Mavis Lilian Batey, MBE (born Lever; 5 May 1921 – 12 November 2013), was an amazing English code-breaker during World War II. She was one of the most important female code-breakers at a secret place called Bletchley Park.

After the war, she became a historian of gardening. She worked hard to save old and important parks and gardens. She also wrote many books. Mavis Batey received the Veitch Memorial Medal in 1985. She was also made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1987. Both awards were for her great work in saving gardens.

Early Life

Mavis Lilian Lever was born on May 5, 1921, in Dulwich, London. Her mother was a seamstress and her father worked for the post office. She grew up in Norbury and went to Coloma Convent Girls' School in Croydon.

When World War II began, she was studying German at University College, London. She decided to stop her studies to help with the war effort. Mavis first wanted to be a nurse. However, people soon realized her language skills were very useful.

Code-breaking Hero

Mavis Batey was first hired to check newspaper ads in The Times. She looked for secret spy messages hidden in them. Then, in 1940, she was asked to work as a code-breaker at Bletchley Park. This was a top-secret place where British experts worked to break enemy codes.

Mavis worked as an assistant to a famous code-breaker named Dilly Knox. She played a key role in breaking Italian naval codes before the Battle of Cape Matapan. She became so good at her job that she could tell how different enemy operators sent their messages. She even figured out that two of them had a girlfriend named Rosa! Mavis developed a special way to break codes that was used by others.

Even though Mavis was only 19, she started working on the Italian Naval Enigma machine. The Enigma machine was a complex device used by the Germans and their allies to send secret messages. By March 1941, she successfully broke into their code system. She deciphered a message that said "Today's the day minus three."

She and her team worked for three days and nights. They discovered that the Italians planned to attack a British convoy. This convoy was carrying supplies from Egypt to Greece. The messages Mavis and her team broke gave a detailed plan of the Italian attack. This information helped the Allied forces destroy much of the Italian navy near Cape Matapan, Greece.

After the victory, Admiral Andrew Cunningham, who led the Matapan attack, visited Bletchley Park. He thanked Knox, Batey, and the other code-breakers. He said they made his victory possible. Dilly Knox, who was also a classics expert, wrote a poem to celebrate the win. He included a part just for Mavis Batey:

"When Cunningham won at Matapan, By the grace of God and Mavis, 'Nigro simillima cygno est,' praise Heaven, A very 'rara avis.' " ("Like the black swan, she is, praise heaven, a very rare bird.") Mavis later said this was "very heady stuff for a 19-year-old."

In December 1941, Mavis broke another important message. It was a message between Belgrade and Berlin. This allowed Knox's team to figure out how the Abwehr Enigma machine worked. This was an Enigma machine that people thought was impossible to break. Later, Mavis broke another Abwehr machine, called the GGG. This meant the British could read the Abwehr's secret messages. It also confirmed that the Germans believed the fake information given to them by British double agents.

While working at Bletchley Park, Mavis met Keith Batey. He was also a mathematician and a code-breaker. They got married in 1942.

Later Life and Awards

After 1945, Mavis Batey worked for a short time in the Diplomatic Service. Then, she focused on raising her three children: two daughters and a son.

She wrote many books about the history of gardens. She also wrote some books about Bletchley Park. Mavis served as the President of the Garden History Society. She had become the Secretary of this society in 1971.

Mavis received the Veitch Memorial Medal in 1985. She was also made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1987. Both of these awards were given for her important work in saving and protecting historic gardens.

Mavis Batey passed away on November 12, 2013, at the age of 92. Her husband, Keith, had passed away in 2010.

Since 2005, The Gardens Trust has held an annual competition called the Mavis Batey Essay Prize. This competition is for university students from around the world. It celebrates Mavis Batey's achievements and her dedication to gardening. The competition was held for the sixteenth time in 2020.

See also

In Spanish: Mavis Batey para niños